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Sometime in the summer, Kate Shrewsday asked if I would be willing to contribute to a new blog she was setting up, about British life.

I said ‘yes’, of course; and then contributed nothing for months. However, I now have my groove back and have produced as many as four posts for that blog, Letter From Britain. Two of the posts you will have read on here first; one included an apology and an accidental lie; one was original material.

The original stuff is reproduced below, for those of you too lazy to visit Letter From Britain, but I hope the rest of you will wander on over. There is an eclectic mix of writers and writing styles but all have one thing in common: we love Britain and want to give you a flavour of this beautiful, if ancient, country. Some of us prove that by making fun of it.

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A Letter From Britain

WE’LL GET YOU YET

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (Photo credit: Wikipe

The British are coming! The British are coming!

Americans might claim that saying as theirs, via Paul Revere, but my favourite use of it was when it headlined a newspaper article in the Johannesburg broadsheet, The Star, in the early Nineties. The article announced that the Equity ban was to be lifted, and British TV would be allowed to be shown in South Africa at last.

What was the first programme to be aired?

Mr Bean.

Thanks for nothing, Equity.

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According to The Telegraph, The British are coming! The British are coming! could have been shouted in 90% of the world’s countries at one point or another:

The analysis of the histories of the almost 200 countries in the world found only 22 which have never experienced an invasion by the British.

Among this select group of nations are far-off destinations such as Guatemala, Tajikistan and the Marshall Islands, as well some slightly closer to home, such as Luxembourg.

Don’t worry, countries not yet in the club: if the British don’t get you, Mr Bean probably already has.

28 Responses to “Letter From Britain”

I’ve just come back from the clinic (routine blood test) where the entry was blocked by a right-hand-drive but French registered Kangoo dropping an able-bodied man right at the door. The lady driver took up the whole car park turning round while I waited. There were three in the waiting room when I entered, including the AB man. Ten minutes later an irate woman came in effing and blinding to the AB man in English about having to wait, and went out again. AB man went in for his jab or whatever, and when he came out ages later, I was greeted with open arms and a bisou (kiss) by François (the nurse) complaining bitterly about “ces anglais qui ne parle pas français” . Makes you wonder about all those countries invaded by Brits!

mr bean makes me laugh and laugh….what a goofball. good post Tilly–and loved your seque that you posted it on your site too for those too lazy to go to the other site! ha! sure, shame us into action LOL

hi TillyB…I have been very lapsed in my blogging but I started to write again this morning explaining the why, the wherefore and all the rest then I had to stop due to demolishing kitchen…But have no fear ..I am fine as I always am…and happy as well, but thank you for missing me…….
That is a very interesting blog about Britain..it gives those ‘foreign’ people knowledge of what we are like …well done..lots of ;love xxxx

The only reason the British didn’t invade the Marshall Islands is because the US and Britain divided Europe during WWII. The Brits took India, Burma and Indochina, while the US took on the islands and defended Austrailia and NZ. This according to Antony Beevor, British historian. Even when they weren’t invading something, they got one of their ‘friends’ to do so.

PS. I think they did get to Tajikistan but this writer was not informed about it. Dianne

Feel so sorry for South Africa that had to … see Mr Bean.
For my Britain is Royal Mail, Full English Breakfast, Mark & Spencer, LloydsTSB, Blue Bells, new born lambs, London, wild Daffodils, Haggis and Primark and I miss it all.!!!

I welcome your comments but be warned: I'm menopausal and as likely to snarl as smile. Wine or Maltesers are an acceptable bribe; or a compliment about my youthful looks and cheery disposition will do in a pinch. Cancel reply

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I am a little fat. I like food; what can I say? I have dull hair: mousey. I don’t wear much make-up and have no need of a dressing table. If I look like a bag lady, I chose my own clothes. If I look nice, the Hub picked them for me. Despite all this, I am a little vain. This photograph is from 2003. I had to go back that far to find one of me that I liked. But I don’t really care: my husband still thinks I’m beautiful and if he doesn’t, he loves me enough to lie about it. I’m lucky. I have two boys. They never lie to me. Still, you can't have everything.

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